Director of Clinical Services, Responsive Health Management Inc.

As Director of Clinical Services with Responsive Health Management, Maria brings deep clinical expertise, strong leadership, and an unwavering commitment to resident safety and quality of care. Since joining the organization in June 2013, Maria has played a pivotal role in advancing clinical excellence by championing a person-centred approach that enhances residents’ quality of life and supports families throughout their care journey.

Maria is responsible for overseeing clinical outcomes, strengthening clinical governance, and ensuring leaders within the home are well equipped, skilled, and supported to deliver high-quality care. She leads Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) initiatives, establishing systems that monitor, evaluate, and report on care outcomes to stakeholders. Through her leadership, Maria has achieved measurable improvements in resident care standards, strengthened compliance results, and ensured consistent readiness to meet and exceed regulatory requirements through proactive oversight, audits, and accountability structures.

A skilled and dedicated Registered Nurse, Maria brings extensive Frontline and leadership experience to her role, having progressed from Personal Support Worker to Registered Staff Nurse, Charge Nurse, RAI Coordinator, IPAC Manager, as well as a Responsive Behaviours Manager, and has held roles in the Ministry of Long-Term Care. She is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt- certified leader and served on the Resident First Quality Improvement Team in Hamilton. She is also IIWCC-certified (International Interprofessional Wound Care Course), and has participated in innovation and change management on enhancing Palliative Care.

She is known as a compassionate, innovative, and collaborative leader who empowers others, fosters kindness and respect, and builds strong nursing leadership capacity. Maria’s work reflects her belief that quality improvement must be lived every day through meaningful action, shared accountability, and continuous learning.

Maria’s professional development is grounded in both education and practice. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and has continued to deepen her expertise through her work in long-term care, quality improvement, and clinical leadership. Her dedication to advancing resident-centred care, strengthening compliance, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement is integral to her role and to the success of the organization.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Maria now lives in Canada with her husband and two sons, whom she fondly refers to as “my boys,” both currently attending university. Outside of work, Maria enjoys decorating, baking and designing cakes, and shopping. She shares with enthusiasm, “I am passionate about bringing quality improvement to life, transforming it from a concept into meaningful actions that enrich the lives of residents and families, and walking alongside them throughout their journey.”